Agu, Amadi salute Enyeama despite FIFA’s snub

Aloy Agu and Emeka Amadi, former Nigeria goalkeepers, have hailed the heroics of Super Eagles’ first choice goalie at the Brazil 2014 World Cup, Vincent Enyeama despite not being on the shortlist of the three finalists for FIFA’s Golden Glove award.

Enyeama whose agility kept Nigeria in the tournament until the 2-0 defeat to France in the Round of 16 was overlooked along with America’s Tim Howard who made a record 16-save performance against Belgium in the round of 16.

The three finalists were from teams that advanced to at least the quarterfinals namely, Costa Rica’s Keylor Navas, Germany’s Manuel Neuer and Argentina’s Sergio Romero.

“There is no doubt that Enyeama would have been picked by FIFA as one of the three best goalkeepers at the World Cup if the Super Eagles had reached at least the quarter finals,” said Agu, a member of Super Eagles’ 1994 AFCON-winning team, who lost his teeth while on duty for Nigeria against Ghana in Kumasi in 1993.

“He did so well in all the matches he played but we should not forget that FIFA has indices for picking the best players and goalkeepers at their tournaments. Not picking Enyeama has to do with the fact that the Super Eagles did not progress further than the Round of 16.”

Speaking in the same vein, Amadi, the Golden Eaglets’ goalkeeper trainer who guided Dele Alampasu to win FIFA’s Golden Glove award at the 2013 Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, admitted that Enyeama was one of the best goalkeepers at Brazil 2014.

“We must be proud of what Enyeama did at the World Cup but my favourite for the Golden Glove Award is Neuer and this has nothing to do with the fact that I’d lived in Germany before,” Amadi added.